A glass of olive juice selling for 1,000 yuan once put the brand Yecuishan in the trending topics and also drew the attention of market regulators. At the end of 2021, this drink, which was claimed to be made with Golden Jade Sanian olives costing nearly 800 yuan per jin, was investigated by the Shenzhen Municipal Market Supervision Bureau because the actual purchase price did not match the promotion, and the company involved was ultimately fined 500,000 yuan. After Heytea invested in Yecuishan, it also faced questions from netizens. This incident not only exposed the chaos of pricing and promotion in the tea beverage industry, but also prompted people to think about the real cost and authenticity of so-called high-end products on the market. [more…]

In the cold winter, a cup of hot milk tea always brings a bit of warmth. Prices for drinks on the market range from under ten yuan at Mixue Bingcheng to thirty or forty yuan at Nayuki and Heytea, with most still within what consumers can afford. However, recently a thousand-yuan drink has drawn attention on Weibo's trending topics—an olive juice launched by the Shenzhen milk tea brand Yecuishan, priced as high as 1,000 yuan. This drink uses the rare Chaoshan variety Jinyu Sannian olive, with the raw material costing about 800 yuan per jin on the market, and production taking nearly 3 hours. At the same time, Heytea has taken a stake in Yecuishan, holding 60% to become the largest shareholder, and the brand currently has more than 30 stores. [more…]

Recently, Shenzhen's Heytea was investigated by regulators for suspected false advertising over a cup of olive juice priced at a thousand yuan, sparking heated discussion among netizens. Many consumers left comments on Weibo asking whether they could get a refund with their receipt, and the incident once again reminds everyone to consume rationally. Meanwhile, why can Chaoshan olives sell for such a high price? This article analyzes the whole story of the incident, the regulatory investigation, and raw material costs, taking you through the business logic behind the thousand-yuan juice and the preciousness of Chaoshan olives. [more…]

A well-known chain milk tea brand, 1 Dian Dian, recently trended on social media due to a public welfare tweet about assisting children from impoverished families, sparking widespread discussion. The brand claimed to have helped a child living with his father in an 18-square-meter rented room by renovating the room and adding a desk and wardrobe, but netizens noticed from public photos that the aided boy was wearing a phone watch worth over a thousand yuan, and that the living conditions differed from the tweet's description, questioning whether he met the assistance criteria. Additionally, issues such as a large proportion of comic books among the donated items and the concentration of aid recipients in first- and second-tier cities were also raised. As public opinion heated up, the brand deleted and edited some posts but did not respond directly. The local subdistrict office and social work station later confirmed to the media that the recipient was indeed from a low-income household, excelling in both academics and character, and that the items were all donations. Behind the incident, the screening criteria and transparency of public welfare activities have become the focus. [more…]

Compared to coffee with its pronounced bitterness, sweet-and-sour milk tea is clearly more to the public's taste. Whether on a busy workday or a leisurely weekend, milk tea has long been part of many people's lives. Recently, a newly opened milk tea shop in Changsha, Hunan, suddenly went viral—not because of its unique flavors, but because a single cup of juice was selling for 108 yuan. The shop, named "Xiaoshanjing · Fruit Molecular Tea," drew attention with its giant tiger tail design and high-priced menu. Staff claimed that the durian drink contains half a cup of Musang King pulp, while the mangosteen drink uses 4 jin of mangosteen. Is the high price worth the money, or is it a marketing gimmick? Consumers have differing views, and some are reminded of the earlier incident in Shenzhen involving Yecuishan's thousand-yuan olive juice. [more…]

When coffee meets Chinese baijiu, what kind of sparks will fly? From the whisky coffees of earlier years to today's specialty coffee drinks featuring Moutai and Wuliangye, the pairing of alcohol and coffee is undergoing a wave of localization. Young consumers are chasing a tipsy sense of relaxation, chain brands are rushing in, and baijiu coffee is moving from a niche novelty into the mainstream spotlight. Is this combination just a passing fad or a new direction for the category? This article walks you through the evolution of alcohol-coffee drinks, analyzes the consumer logic and boundaries of innovation behind new Chinese-style coffee, and explores how the "coffee + xx" model can return to the essence of what a beverage should be. [more…]

To make a good cup of coffee, which matters more—the coffee beans or the equipment? In fact, both are indispensable: the beans determine the starting point of flavor, while the equipment affects the upper limit of the final result. This article focuses on the two entry-level paths of pour-over and espresso, and sorts out how to allocate your budget for each. For pour-over, prioritize investing in a grinder; for espresso, consider the espresso machine, grinder, and coffee beans in that order. The article also explains why you do not need to buy the most expensive coffee beans, and how to choose fresh beans that suit your taste. Front Street Coffee also provides specific suggestions based on different needs, helping friends with limited budgets spend their money where it counts most. [more…]

Beginners who have just started exploring coffee-making often find themselves staring at a home espresso machine, unsure where to begin. In fact, regardless of how much the equipment costs, the principles of espresso extraction remain the same. This article takes a beginner's perspective and breaks down the complete process in detail—from bean selection, dosing, and tamping to judging extraction time—and explains why espresso blend beans are better suited for making lattes. It also draws on several blend products from the Front Street brand to provide a set of parameters you can follow directly, helping you avoid detours and consistently produce a rich, full-bodied espresso with thick crema. [more…]

Many friends who are just getting into coffee often ask: what basic equipment do you actually need to prepare if you want to teach yourself pour-over at home? In fact, pour-over may seem professional and complicated, but once broken down, it is nothing more than a grinder, a digital scale, a gooseneck kettle, a dripper and filter paper, a server, and coffee beans. This article gives purchasing suggestions one by one according to budget and needs, and offers reference directions for the common bean-selection confusion beginners face. Front Street will also draw on everyday experience to share ideas for choosing everyday beans, helping you gradually build your judgment of brewing and flavor while keeping costs under control. [more…]

Friends who have just gotten a new electric kettle often ask: can this kettle be used directly to brew pour-over coffee? The answer is yes, but brewing a delicious cup with it is not so simple. The long, slender neck, narrow spout, and low center of gravity of a professional pour-over kettle are all designed for stable pouring; an ordinary electric kettle is built around boiling water, lacks a flow-guiding structure, and is naturally harder to control. Through hands-on testing, Front Street Coffee shares two workable methods for brewing good coffee with an ordinary electric kettle, and provides complete extraction parameters and brewing steps, verifying that an electric kettle can also brew coffee with excellent flavor. [more…]

Coffee has long been woven into the daily lives of modern people, and many are in the habit of reaching for a cup to perk themselves up in their free time. Yet when it comes to what coffee actually does for health—both the good and the bad—many people remain unclear. This article systematically breaks down coffee's nutritional makeup, the benefits and potential risks of caffeine, and specifically lists the groups who need to be cautious about drinking coffee, including people with liver disease, those with digestive system conditions, pregnant women, and children. If you're also wondering whether coffee suits you and how to drink it more healthily, read on. [more…]

Specialty coffee drinks are becoming increasingly common in specialty cafés, and their high prices and rich flavors attract many consumers. Yet many people, after drinking them, can't taste the coffee at all and even call them "sweet water," which raises the question: why are these specialty drinks so expensive? This article starts from the definition of a specialty drink, sorts out its two main types originating from the WBC creative beverage, analyzes the reasons for the high price, discusses whether a specialty drink is worth it, and shares how to choose Front Street Coffee beans and extraction methods based on flavor pairings when recreating it at home. [more…]

Starbucks has recently launched the Iced Energy line of iced energy drinks at its stores nationwide in the United States, with three new products in total, one of which is available in limited supply only on the App, while stores offer two flavors, Tropical Citrus and Melon Burst. This drink is brightly colored, low-calorie and sugar-free, yet contains as much as 205 milligrams of caffeine, far exceeding a Starbucks grande latte, equivalent to 6 cans of cola or 2 cans of Red Bull. In recent years, the U.S. energy drink market has grown rapidly, but Panera Bread's high-caffeine drink previously led to a death and litigation, and Starbucks' entry into the market this time has sparked online discussion about its safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescents and children avoid energy drinks, and Starbucks responded that its store menus already disclose ingredient and nutrition information. [more…]

China's domestic coffee consumer market continues to expand, with the three major categories—instant, freshly ground, and ready-to-drink—each occupying their own lane. Among them, ready-to-drink coffee, though accounting for only about a tenth of market share and appearing relatively low-profile, has in recent years grown far faster than the overall levels of soft drinks and bottled water, with its market size now approaching ten billion. Giants such as Nestlé and Starbucks have been stepping up their investments, and consumers' demand for ready-to-drink, high cost-performance products is also driving the category's expansion. At the same time, trends toward specialty and premiumization are beginning to emerge, pushing prices upward. Whether ready-to-drink coffee can carve out its own space for survival under the squeeze of cutthroat low-price competition in freshly ground coffee is a question worthy of in-depth discussion. [more…]

A 500mL bottle of Dongpeng Special Drink contains as much as 66.5 grams of sugar, equivalent to eating about 15 sugar cubes. A third-party testing agency's evaluation of 12 functional drinks on the market shows that Dongpeng Special Drink far outpaces the others in sugar content, even surpassing carbonated beverages known for being high in sugar. In response to this result, Dongpeng said its formula has been approved by the state and recommended drinking only one bottle per day. High sugar intake is closely linked to obesity, chronic diseases, and even accelerated aging, yet the sugar in functional drinks is difficult to completely remove. When late-night overtime workers treat Dongpeng Special Drink as a "life-renewing elixir," do they realize they are being "stabbed in the back" by high sugar? This article will take an in-depth look at this test report and explore the high-sugar dilemma of functional drinks. [more…]

Starbucks North America recently transformed its social media sensation Pink Drink from a store-exclusive beverage into a bottled ready-to-drink product, which sold out rapidly after launching in major supermarkets, convenience stores, and online channels. This pink drink, which first gained popularity in 2016 as a secret menu item, went through fan-driven organic promotion, was officially added to the menu in 2017, and then expanded to North American markets including Canada in 2018, yet has never made its way to Starbucks stores in mainland China. The bottled version also launched a tropical-flavored Paradise Drink alongside it. Although it omits the fresh fruit pieces, it comes at a more affordable price, adding another new member to Starbucks' ready-to-drink beverage lineup. Chinese coffee enthusiasts have responded enthusiastically, with many calling on the brand to bring the product to China. [more…]

Recently, there have been many complaints on social media about Starbucks delivery drinks not being filled to the top, involving the Mousse Espresso series, drinks with cream on top, and some hot beverages. Images shared by netizens show that upon delivery, the liquid level is noticeably lower than in-store offerings. A customer used a buy-one-get-one coupon to purchase two Rum Mousse Espresso Lattes, and one of them was not full. Customer service only compensated with a 10-yuan delivery coupon. Starbucks officially explains that the top of the Cloud Macchiato series is made by whipping light cream with milk, while the Mousse Espresso series involves whipping espresso into a mousse texture. For these drinks, the milk foam or coffee foam dissipates over time, and the ordering interface also reminds customers to drink them promptly. Consumers hope the official will pay attention to the consistency between delivery and in-store offerings, or consider not listing such drinks on delivery platforms. Front Street Coffee continues to monitor coffee industry trends and brings you professional insights. [more…]

Is coffee a healthful beverage or a hidden health risk? This question has long puzzled many enthusiasts. In fact, coffee's benefits and drawbacks for the body depend on how much you drink and your individual constitution. Moderate intake can lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, and reduce the occurrence of gallstones and fatty liver; but excessive intake may lead to insomnia, stomach irritation, elevated cholesterol, impaired iron absorption, and even osteoporosis. This article will systematically sort out coffee's pros and cons from multiple dimensions—including the head, liver and gallbladder, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, metabolism, and women's health—and offer practical advice such as daily caffeine limits, paper filtering, and the best times to drink, helping you drink with peace of mind and enjoyment. [more…]

Recently, a video of a 105-year-old grandmother from Lishui, Zhejiang, who claims to have been drinking coffee for a century, has sparked intense discussion among netizens. Some questioned how a three-year-old child could drink coffee, while others wondered why someone who has drunk coffee her whole life now drinks instant coffee. Setting aside the controversy, this interview actually traces the century-long history of coffee's spread in China—from "black wine" in the Qing Dynasty to the flourishing of coffeehouses during the Republic of China era, and then to modern medicine's cautious recommendations regarding children's caffeine intake. This article sorts out the development of coffee in China and answers questions such as whether children can drink coffee and why the grandmother drinks instant coffee, helping you view the relationship between coffee and health, habits and tradition more rationally. [more…]

As one of the most popular beverages in the world, coffee offers many benefits such as boosting alertness, promoting metabolism, and providing antioxidants, but it also carries potential risks like calcium loss, osteoporosis, and increased cardiovascular strain. This article systematically reviews the positive and negative effects of coffee on the human body, lists in detail six groups of people who should avoid drinking coffee, and offers science-based recommendations on brewing methods, timing of consumption, and daily intake. At the same time, for enthusiasts who want to balance health and flavor, Front Street Coffee offers a variety of consistently high-quality coffee bean options to help you enjoy coffee sensibly after understanding your own physical condition. [more…]